Method of and apparatus for printing



Aug. 30, 1938, F. G. BEMIS ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING Filed April 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l V 0* m: Q 8 mm tvxbao FIG.2.

Aug 1938 F. G. BEMIS ET AL 2,128,343

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING Filed April 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Amigo 30 1938., F. G. BEMIS ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING Filed April 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. G. BEMIS ET AL.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING Filed April 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG] Aug. 30, 1938. F. G. BEMIS ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING Filed April 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 30, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Farwell G. Bemis, Brookline, and Arnold N. Weeks, North Scituate, Masa, assignors to Bemis Bro.

32:100., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Mis- Application April 10, 1936, Serial No. 73,710 14 Claims. (01. 101-178) This invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for printing, and with regard to certain more specific features, to printing directly from embossed or similar belts.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a method and which will provide for various precise imprintspacings; the provision of apparatus of the class described which may be precisely synchronized with other operations, such asply pasting, web cutting and the like; and the provision of apparatus of the class described in which means is provided for precisely synchronizing the surface speed of the embossed or similar printing belt and the web of material being printed. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1-is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an angle section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section taken on line 'i-'| of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are respectively detail sections of certain adjusting clutches;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic layout showing certain elements of the invention in use with shorter belts;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary end view of a printing belt on a printing cylinder, parts being shown in sections;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic plan view of an alternative form of the invention; and,

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing another form.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

. In general, the present device comprises a flexible-belt-plate printer for printing webbing which may be later cut and formed into bags or the like, or otherwise repetitively acted upon. The purpose of the device is to effect printing of any of various lengths of compound-print units on the webbing, from which printed bags or the like are later formed, which respectively carry the respective printing units, without the necessity for having on hand a great variety of printing rolls to accommodate different bag sizes. The above functions are to be carried out in a compound, preferably direct (not oiTset) multi-colored process, with a high" degree of accuracy, minimum loss of material at substantial speed and with simple, economical and reliable equipment. I

Referring now more particularly to Fig. I, there is shown at numeral i a frame which carries a drive shaft 3 (see also Fig. 3). This shaft is geared to an upper main shaft 91 by gears 9|, 93, 95. Gear 9| is a change gear and gear 93 is adaptable in position to accommodate various sizes of the gear 9|. Gear 93 is mounted on sector 95 rotatable on shaft 91 and adapted to be locked by the bolt and slot combination 99. The shaft 91 has fastened thereto an impression cylinder 5 over which passes the web of material 1 upon which printing is to be accomplished (Figs. 3 and 13). The web 1 is guided by suitable idlers 9 andmay be of any width within the limits of cylinder 5, but in the present embodiment is shownas being of a width less than the width of the impression cylinder 5 (Fig. 2). It is to be understood that the web 1 passes from and to other machines which perform other operations, such as a subsequent cutting into uniform lengths, or the like. 50

Thus it will be seen that any application of compound marking to the web, such as a brand mark, should, for best results, be exactly predetermined in length and spacing and arranged so that cumulative errors in length and spacing do not occur; hence to preserve an accurate synchronization with respect to prior and subsequent operations of other machines.

Color printing cylinders II and I3 are provided adjacent and parallel to the impression cylinder 5. These cylinders II and I3 are adjustably clamped to and rotate with shafts I5 and I1 respectively. Shafts I5 and I1 are supported in adjustable bearing blocks I9 and 2| respectively. Manually controllable adjusting screws 23 provide independent adjusting means at the r spective ends of the shafts.

The color printing cylinders II and I3 carry color printing belts 25 and 21 respectively, passing over relatively wide idler cylinders 29 and 3| respectively. These belts 25 and 21 are composed of a resilient, embossed printing surface,

preferably rubber 3| (Fig. 14) backed with can-.

vas 33. The belt is accurately spliced at parallel, wedge-shaped, or similar scarfs shown at 35. Thus is formed a cemented lap joint. The cement used is preferably one such as rubber cement or like flexible adhesive. This type of joint provides a large area of adherence and a smooth belt surface. A relatively great tension may be placed upon the belt for adjusting purposes to be described. The rubber cement resists shearing away of one scarfed portion from the other under pull along the belt but at the same time permits of easy separation of the joint when one scarf is lifted from the other by a motion at right angles to the adjoining faces. Thus belts may be quickly removed and reapplied. Other fastenings, including those of a mechanical type could be used, but the above-described one has been found suitable for quick changes.

The rubber surface 3| is embossed with high and low portions 32 and 34 respectively which may be provided by cutting in the recesses or adhering projections to form the color pattern desired. Instead of cutting the embossing may be effected by adhering projections or otherwise.

One edge of each belt is provided with a series of holes 31 for receiving pins 39 arranged peripherally on the end of each cylinder II and I3. These holes and pins are alinement devices, the functions of which will be made clear. It is to be understood that the pins may be otherwise than at the ends of the cylinders.

The idler cylinders 29 and 3| have each a long range of adjustment for accommodating various belt lengths and for minute belt tensioning to obtain accurate synchronization. Each of these adjustments will be independently particularized. Referring first to cylinder 29 (Fig. 3) it will be seen to be mounted in cross heads 4| (see also Figs. 2 and 5), slidable in guides 43, and controlled by means of lead screws 45 threaded therethrough. The lead screw on the forward side of the machine is provided at its upper end with a hand wheel 41 and at its lower end with a helical gear 49. The gear 49 meshes with another helical gear 5| on a cross shaft 53 (see also Fig. 11). The helical gear 5| is held on the shaft 53 between a shoulder 55 and a cone clutch member 51, the latter being adapted to be tightened and loosened by means of a bolt 59 threaded into the end of the shaft 53. Thus an adjustment of the hand wheel 41 may be carried on independently at the forward end of the idler 29, or, as will be shown, both ends may be adjusted at the same time.

The shaft 53 extends to the rear of the machine (Fig. 2) where it is provided with a helical gear screw 45 controls the elevation of the rear bear-.

ings of the idling cylinder 29. When the clutch 51 is closed, movement of the hand wheel 41 results in equal vertical adjustments of the opposite ends of the idler cylinder 29. By opening the clutch, relative adjustments may be made between opposite ends of the cylinder 29. Thus, the cylinder may be lowered or elevated, as a whole, and adjusted for parallelism with respect to the color cylinder II.

An analogous adjusting means is provided for the idler 4| (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 13). This comprises bearing supports 65 slidable in guides 61 and under control of screws 69 threaded through the bearing supports 65. A counter shaft 19 is used for carrying an adjusting wheel 13. Cross shaft 1| carries at its forward end a gear 15 which meshes with a gear 11 on the counter shaft 19. The shaft 1| also carries near its forward end a helical gear 8| which meshes with a helical gear 83 on the forward adjusting screw 65. The helical gear 8| may be clutched and unclutched from the shaft 1| (Fig. 12) by means of a clutch member 82 which threads on a collar keyed to the shaft 1|. The clutch member 83 may be adjusted on the collar 85 by the use of a spanner wrench in holes 81. Thus motion may or may not be transmitted from the shaft 1| to the forward adjusting screw 65, depending upon whether this clutch is closed or open.

At its rear end, the shaft 1| is provided with a helical gear set 89 (Fig. 2) for transmitting motion to the rear adjusting screw 59. Hence the idler cylinder 3| may be adjusted for both elevation and parallelism with the second color cylinder I3.

The drive shaft 3 provides the motive power for all rolls. It drives through the change gear 9| which meshes with the idler 93, the latter in turn meshing with the gear on the supporting shaft 91 for the roll 5. Various sizes of the gear 9| may be used and for effecting a change of gears, the idler 93 is movable about the center of rotation of the gear 95 by reason of the fact that the gear 93 is mounted on the sector frame 95 which rotates on the same center as the gear 95 and is held in a rotated adjusted position by means of the slot and bolt combination 99. For

- effecting a hand adjustment of the machine, a

gear IOI meshing with gear 35 is provided on a stud I03. The gear IDI carries a hand wheel I05. The latter rotates when the machine is running but for adjusting purposes may be rotated by hand when the machine is idle.

The shaft 91 carries another gear I01 which meshes with gears I09 on the respective color cylinder shafts I5 and I1. Thus the angular motions of the rolls 5, I I and I3 are synchronized. The purpose of the pins 39 and the holes 31 is not entirely to synchronize the printing belts 25 and 21 with respective rolls II and I3. The belts are relatively wide and have substantial friction on their supporting cylinders and normally could not altogether be controlled by such light apparatus as the pins and the holes in the relatively soft material of the belt. The action of the pins in the holes is primarily to provide accurate indicators of the relative belt positions on the respective color rolls II and I3. The proper positioning of the belt on the cylinders II and I3 is maintained by friction to a high degree of accuracy, but if the operator notices any tendency for the pins to advance or lag with respect to the holes. adjustments may be made at wheels 41 75 and I3 (the clutches on shaft 53 and II closed). Such adjustments increase or decrease the tension in the belts, and by minutely altering the spacing of the holes in the belt, cause it to remain in synchronization.

The pins 39, it will be noted, are shorter in length than the thickness of the belt so that they do not pick up coloring matter.

It will be understood that in order to deter mine whether or not the pins 39 are centered in the holes 31, laterally considered, it is not necessary to slow the machine. But to determine whether or not they are centrally located longi tudinally, slower operation is necessary, and preliminary settings are therefore made from the wheel I05. From this it will be seen that all of the quick-changing characteristics of belt color printing plates is retained and at the same time means is provided for accurately maintaining the proper positions of the respective belts on their respective color rolls. For example, for the making of relatively short bags from the web I, relatively short belts 25 and 21 may be used, (see for example Fig. 13). These may be quickly threaded over their cylinder and spliced at the lap joints such as above described. The shafts I 5 and IT are then adjusted so that the belts 25 and 21 press against the web I which passes over the cylinder 5. The involute form of tooth used on gears I01, I09 permits the necessary slight variation in center distance without interfering with driving therebetween. The machine is then moved and by adjusting the idler rolls 29 and 3| until the respective sets of pins 39 continually center in their respective holes, synchronism will be maintained.

When a belt is under relatively high tension, the pitch distance between holes is greater and the pins will be positioned relatively forward in their respective holes, that is, the belt will be lagging on its cylinder and to correct this condition the operator relieves the tension on the belt so that the pitch distance on the belt between belt holes will be slightly decreased, thus causing the pins to go relatively backwards in the holes. Conversely, when the belt is too loose, the pitch distances between holes may be less than the pitch distances between pins, and the pins will move relatively backwards to the hole and the belt will be relatively advanced too much on the color cylinder. To correct this condition, the tension of the belt is increased, thereby increasing the pitch distance.

From the above it will be seen that the operator needs merely watch the relative positions of the pins in the holes and maintain a tension on the belt such that they substantially center. This is an important point, because it has been found impossible to synchronize belts merely by providing holes in the belts and registry pins on the cylinders. Any maladjustment causes the pins to ride out of the holes and it requires an auxiliary adjustment such as herein described to properly position the belts on their respective color cylinders.

It is further not the purpose of each changeable belt to provide a full multiple of any circumference on the cylinder 5. Its length needs only be a full multiple of the distance between pins. It is merely to provide for difierent lengths of printing pattern or brand which may be provided by providing widely varying belt lengths. It is to be understood that the belts 25 and 21 are easily replaced by unsplicing and splicing in new ones. Thus it will be seen that the adjustment for the idler rollers 29 and 3| provide both for substituting widely variable belt lengths for widely variable ment. For instance, any creepage of the belts to the right or left may be compensated for by stopping the machine and making a relative adjustment between opposite ends of the idler rolls 29 and 3| by temporarily opening the clutches associated with shafts 53 and II.

At numerals III are shown slidable supports for ink wells H3, located on opposite sides of the machine. These are controllable from screws II5 which carry helical gears I I1 clamped thereto by means of clutches II9 locked by handles I2I (for details see Fig. 10). When a given clutch is open, the remainder of the ink well adjusting system may be moved so as to cant a given well.

Each ink well carries therein a pair of metering rolls I23 (Figs. 7 and 9) which may be predeterminately spaced from one another by adjusting screws I25 located beyond opposite ends of the Wells. In the case of the left-hand well (Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 9), the ink or color material which is picked up is delivered to an intermediate roll I21 which presses against the respective belt 25.

The well on the right side of the machine does not require an intermediate roll I21, because one of the metering rolls I23 is rotating in the proper direction to directly contact the belt 21 at a point adjacent the cylinder I3 (Figs. 2, 3 and 7).

A gear drive I24 is used to drive the ink rolls on the left side of the machine (Fig. 3) and a gear drive I26 for driving the ink rolls on the right side.

It is to be understood that variously colored inks either of the analine or other varieties may be used in the ink wells, thus producing various colors on the belts 25 and 21. It is to be understood that a greater plurality of belts and colors may be used by suitably positioning them about the periphery of the cylinder 5 or about additional synchronized cylinders similar to cylinder 5.

Fig. 2 shows one color cylinder and belt for each color to be applied to the Web 'I. It is to be understood that a plurality of cylinders may be used on a given shaft I5 or II. In Fig. 15 the shaft I5 carries three color cylinders I29, each supporting a color printing belt I3I. A single Web I33 is moving over the impression cylinder 5 and on the opposite side of the cylinder 5, the other color cylinder I3 carries a single printing belt I 35. For instance, the web I33 may be receiving a. single-color imprint from the single color belt I35 on the cylinder I3, and from the belts I3I single or multi-colored figures which do not need to be applied throughout the width of the web I33. In this case separators are used in the ink fountains to separate the different colors of ink. By using a plurality of color printing belts I3I, the bulk of a single broad belt is eliminated and consequently greater accuracy is obtainable. The narrower belts are more easily spliced accurately.

From the above it will be seen that provision is made for quickly changing the form and length of the pattern that it is desired to apply to the web.

In Fi 16 is shown a form of the invention in which each printing cylinder such as II and I3 has a pair of idler cylinders. For example, the

printing cylinder II has the above-described idler II and a second idler 42, the latter being carried on a shaft 44 which has shoulders riding against slots 46 on opposite ends, with locking nuts 48. The purpose of the added idler 42 is to permit oi making coarse adjustments to accommodate difl'erent belts of widely different lengths and the idler Si is to make only flne adjustments aiter belt placement.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope oi the invention, it is intended that all-matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. y

We claim:

l. A method oi printing comprising moving a web, moving a continuous and flexible and stretchable printing belt into contact with said web, minutely adjusting the belt by relaxing or sretching the same to obtain equal lineal speeds between it and said web, and subsequently using a gross adjustment but of the same type as said relaxing and stretching adjustment to accommodate another belt.

2. A method of printing comprising moving a web, moving a plurality of continuous and flexible printing belts into contact with said web, adjusting the belts by relaxing or stretching the same simultaneously at all points throughout their respective widths to obtain equal lineal speeds between them and said web, and cantlng the belts to obtain proper registry of imprints.

3. A printing machine comprising a rotating impression roll adapted to receive and move with a moving web, a. printing cylinder, an idling cylinder, flexible printing belts adapted to be positioned over said printing and idling cylinders. means for inking said belts, means for adjusting said idling cylinder to various parallel positions, both to accommodate printing belts of widely varying lengths, and to stretch each belt for synchronization, and means for visually determining the synchronizing eflect of said stretch without reference to the printed output.

4. A printing machine comprising a rotating impression roll adapted to receive and move with a moving web, a printing cylinder, an idling cylinder, flexible printing belts adapted to be positioned over said printing and idling cylinders. means for inking said belts, means for simultaneously adjusting opposite ends of said idling cylinder to effect various parallel positions of said cylinder, both to accommodate printing bels of widely varying lengths, and to tension each belt for synchronization, and upon a manipulation for adjusting the idling cylinder to various angular positions to cant the belts.

5. A printing machine comprising a rotating impression roll adapted to receive and move with a moving web, a printing cylinder, an idling cylinder, a flexible printing belt over said printing and idling cylinders, means for inking said belt, means for adjusting said idling cylinder, both to accommodate printing belts of widely varying lengths, and to stretch each belt for synchronization, visual means for determining the synchronizing effect of said stretch without reference to the printed output, and positive driving means between the impression cylinder and said printing cylinder.

' with-each color printing cylinder, a flexible print- 6. A printing machine comprising a rotating impression roll adapted to receive and move with a moving web, a printing cylinder, an idling cylinder, a flexible printing belt over said printing and idling cylinders, means for inking said 5 belt, means for adjusting said idling cylinder, both to accommodate printing belts of widely varying lengths, and to stretch each belt for synchronization, positive gearing between the impression cylinder and said printing cylinder, 10 and means between said printing cylinder and said printing belt adapted to indicate a proper position of the latter, for synchronization comprising pins on the printing cylinder and registering holes in the printing belt.

'7. A printing machine comprising a rotating impression roll adapted to receive and move with a moving web, a printing cylinder, an idling cylinder, a flexible printing belt over said printing and idling cylinders, means for inking said belt, means for simultaneously adjusting opposite ends of said idlingcylinder, both to accommodate printing belts of widely varying lengths, and to tension each belt for synchronization, positive gearing between the impression cylinder and said printing cylinder, means between said printing cylinder and said printing belt adapted to indicate a proper position of. the latter, both peripherally and laterally, and means for making a lateral belt adjustment.

8. In a printing machine, a rotary impression cylinder, a web movable over said cylinder, a plurality of color printing cylinders adjacent said impression cylinder, at least one idler associated ing belt over each set consisting of a printing and at least one idling cylinder, each belt having printing portions corresponding to components of the printed patterns to be applied thereby, means for inking said printing portions, said printing portions contacting said web, means positively gearing the impression and printing cylinders, and means for adjusting each idling cylinder with respect to its respective printing cylinder for accommodating belts of widely varying lengths and to more finely adjust the stretch of any belt placed thereon, and means for determining the proper position of. each belt on its printing cylinder without reference to the printed output.

9. A printing machine comprising a rotary impression roll of predetermined length, said roll having a moving web thereover, a plurality of color printing cylinders adjacent said impression cylinder of lengths less than the length of the impression cylinder, means for adjusting said printing cylinders laterally with respect to said impression cylinder, printing belts over the respective color printing cylinders and contacting said web, and idling cylinders aiding in supporting the printing belts.

10. A printing machine comprising a rotary impression -roll of predetermined length, said roll having a moving web thereover, a plurality of color printing cylinders adjacent said impression cylinder of lengths less than the length of the impression cylinder, means for adjusting said printing cylinders laterally with respect to said impression cylinder, printing belts over the respective color printing cylinders and contacting said web, and idling cylinders aiding in supporting the printing belts, said idling cylinders being of lengths which are of the order of the impression cylinder whereby various printing belt positions may be accommodated.

11. The method of maintaining registry be- 15 5 width until the pitch distance between said holes is equal to the pitch distance between the lugs, to effect a desired synchronization.

12. The method of maintaining registry between a substantially stretchable belt having 10 holes therein and a supporting cylinder having lugs for registration with the holes, comprising simultaneously stretching said belt throughout its width to degrees that the pitch distance between said holes has a proper relation with re- 15 spect to the pitch distance between the lugs to effect a desired adjustment of belt to cylinder and consequent synchronization.

13. A printing machine comprising a rotating impression roll adapted to receive and move with a moving web, a printing cylinder, a plurality of idling cylinders, a flexible printing belt over said printing and both of said idling cylinders, said printing belt carrying portions adapted to contact said web, and means for adjusting each of said idling cylinders.

14. A printing machine comprising a rotating impression roll adapted to receive and move with a moving web, a printing cylinder, a plurality of idling cylinders, a flexible printing belt over said printing and idling cylinders, and means for independently adjusting the respective idling cylinders, the adjustment of one being for accommodating belt changes, and the adjustment of the ther being to tension the belts for synchronization.

FARWELL G. BEMIS. ARNOLD N. WEEKS.- 

